cxcv 
PHOENICOPTEBIDa;. BIRDS. Anatid®. 
It visits Sweden and Norway, on the coast, rarely 
reacliing the moors or lakes. It is found in Northern 
Asia, and is common in France. In Glreat Britain it 
is found at all seasons, and is regarded as not migrat- 
ing'. Dr. Cones met it in Southern California and 
Dakota, where it was associated with Ducks, Ceese, 
Herons, etc. “ 'I’liough as shy as Ducks, they have 
not the wariness of those birds, to teach them to fly 
I'roni danger, but perhaps the nature of the resorts 
which they trust for concealment serves for their pro- 
tection. 1 do not recollect when, if ever, 1 have seen 
Coots fly up into the air, and away. If they are 
surprised too far from their retreats to regain them 
in an instant, they splutter along just over the water, 
half flying — a habit which has gained for them, in 
some districts, the name of Shufflers or Flusterers. 
'I'hey are generally, however, called j\[ud-hens — a 
name shared by some Grebes, as well as Poules 
d’emi. White-bills and other local designations. As 
an article of food, they may take fair rank, though 
they are to be considered, on the whole, as inferior 
to most Ducks.” The Coot is much less understood 
than almost any other bird in our list of North 
America. It is unfortunately one that has local 
names in many portions of the country, so that, if it 
is a bird in one section, it may be a reptile in another 
and a small mammal in a third. 'I'he lobe-foot should 
distinguish it at once ; but its habits are so peculiar, 
it is seldom seen e.xcept by the hunter who pene- 
trates the deepest recesses of the swamps. 
Family— PHOENICOP'I’ERIDHi:. 
The Flamingoes. 
'I’his is a small and very peculiar group, embracing 
about six species, in various parts of the world, in 
warm latitudes. The organization corresponds essen- 
tially with the Ducks. 
AMERICAN FLAMINGO {Phcenicopterus ruler ) — 
Plate 29, flg. 109. — 'I’his is a most elegant bird in 
plumage, as well as unique in its shape. Jt is nearly 
confined to the shores of Florida, though individuals 
have been seen farther north. 'J’he nest is said to be 
constructed as a tall, funnel-shaped object, upon 
which the bii'd sits astride while incubating. 
Famii.y — AN ATID.®. 
Swans, Geese and Ducks. 
TRUMPETER SWAN [Gygnus luccinator). — 'I'liis 
elegant bird is an inhabitant of the Mississippi 
River, and northward to the Pacific, Hudson’s Bay 
and Canada. Rarely it is seen on the Atlantic 
Coast. In winter it ranges to the Gulf. Dr. Cones 
says : “ I have observed tlie 'I’rumpeter on but few 
occasions, in Dakota only, late in September and the 
first half of October, when the birds were migi-ating 
southwards, with great numbers of Canada and Snow 
Geese, and various Wild Ducks. 'I’heir loud and 
strange, almost startling notes, were oftenest heard 
throughout the night, as they passed over head, but 
] also saw some Swans flying in the daytime near 
Fort Stephenson, on the Upper Missouri.” Accord- 
ing to Dr. Hayden, the birds breed in the Yellow- 
stone region, as they also do, according to other 
writers, in Minnesota and Iowa. We have other ac- 
counts of their breeding in Alaska; and Dr. Richard- 
son, who gives it as the commonest species in the 
interior of the fur countries, states that it nests prin- 
cipally within the Arctic Circle. In the fall the 
birds proceed along the whole course of the Missis- 
sippi. Audubon states they made their appearance 
on the lower waters of the Ohio about the end of 
October, and that they are frequently exposed for 
sale in the New Orleans market, being procured on 
the ponds in the interior a, nd on the great lakes lead- 
ing to the Gulf. ’I'hey are occasionally seen on Lake 
Erie, as well as on the Chesapeake and Delaware. 
Dr. Newberry considers them rare in California. 
AMERICAN, OR WHISTLING SWAN ( Gygmis amer- 
icanus). — 'I'he habitat of this bird is considered to be 
pretty general over the continent of North America, 
breeding in the far north. In the Gulf States it is 
not knowii, but is common on the Pacific border. 
A favorite resort is Chesapeake Bay, where, in No- 
vember, it is comparatively abundant. The Philadel- 
phia and Washington markets are supplied from there. 
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE [Amer albifrons) is com- 
mon to the continent of North America, breeding 
in the far north and wintering in the United States 
and in Cuba. In Califori’.ia it is called Speckled- 
belly, where it is very abundant. It associates with 
the Snow and Hutchins’ Goose, and appears to have 
the same general habits, subsisting upon the same 
kind of food. The Californians have a method of 
hunting this Goose which is quite novel. They 
teach a bullock to feed quietly along up to the flock, 
and then follow it until within range. 
SNOW GOOSE (Anser hyperloreus) . — Inhabits the 
whole of North America; breeds in high latitudes; 
winters in the United States ; is abundant in the in- 
terior and along the Facific Coast, and lare on the 
Atlantic. It is seen occasionally in Europe. Wil- 
son says of it : '■ This s[)ecies, called on the Delaware 
the Red Goose, arrives in November, sometimes in 
considerable flocks, and is extremely noisy, their 
notes being shriller and more squeaking than those 
of the Canada or Common Wild Goose. From the 
middle of February to the breaking uj) of the ice in 
March, they are quite numerous. They feed on the 
roots of the reeds, and; like most of their tribe, the 
flesh is excellent eating.” 'J'he Snow Goose is two 
feet eight inches in length, and five feet in extent of 
wing; the bill is three inches in length, remarkably 
thick at base, and I'ising high in the forehead, but 
becomes small and compressed at the extremity, 
where each mandible is furnished with a whitish, 
rounding nail. Dr. Heerman says : “ 'I’hey often 
cover the plains so densely as to give the ground 
the appearance of being clothed with snow. So 
abundant are they, that the natives have often been 
seen to kill dozens of them by riding swiftly into a 
flock as it rested on Ihe plains.” An interesting 
ease is related by Mr. Ridgway, of a Snow Goose 
taking up its quarters with a tame flock, and living 
with them nearly a year. 'I’he term laughing or grin- 
